STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3326
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.R. No. 21
S.D. 1
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 21 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD TO PROVIDE MEMBERS AND VETERANS OF THE ARMED FORCES HEALTH SCREENING FOR DEPLETED URANIUM EXPOSURE AND TO REPORT ON THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF DEPLETED URANIUM STORAGE AND DISPOSAL IN HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request depleted uranium exposure screening for active members and veterans of the armed forces.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Americans for Democratic Action-Hawaii Chapter, Life of the Land, Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action, and thirteen individuals. Comments in opposition to this measure were received from the State Department of Defense.
Your Committee finds that exposure to chemical munitions has adversely affected the health and well-being of many servicemen and women, as well as their families, and residents in areas where munitions have been deployed and stored. Your Committee further finds that screening is merely the first step in the monitoring necessary to assess the real health risks associated with the exposure to different substances.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adding the Department of Veterans Affairs, as an agency responsible to assist in the provision of health screening tests for exposure to depleted uranium;
(2) Calling for health screening and treatment of the dependents of members and veterans of the armed forces who may have been exposed to depleted uranium;
(3) Calling on the Adjutant General of the Hawaii National Guard to coordinate with the United States Department of Defense in Hawaii to conduct an assessment and report on the adequacy of training involving potential exposure to depleted uranium;
(4) Calling on the Adjutant General to ensure that quality health treatment is available to all members and veterans of the Hawaii National Guard and their dependents who may have been exposed to depleted uranium;
(5) Including in a potential task force's duties the investigation and reporting of potential funding sources to continue the provision of health care testing and treatment;
(6) Adding the United States Secretary of Defense as a recipient of this measure;
(7) Amending its title; and
(8) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 21, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 21, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Military Affairs,
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____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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